Scaphiopus holhrookii 103 



GROWTH 



Colonel Nicholas Pike (1886, p. 218) writes that "When they leave the 

 water they are smaller than the common toad, but if the season is favorable 

 they grow rapidly in width more than length. I have some two years old 

 one-quarter of an inch in length, and nearly as wide as long." 



We took in Okefinokee region transformation sizes from 8.5-12 mm. and 

 28 adults. The latter were all breeding males and females from 51-71 mm. 

 In the U. S. National Museum and our collections also intermediate sizes 

 between 51-12 mm. transformation size are scarce. We have a specimen 

 28 mm., one 44 mm., two 45 mm., and one 50 mm. Do the 28 mm. and 44 mm. 

 represent modes or two different groups? If so, we have four groups at least: 

 8.5-12 mm. at transformation; 28 mm., 44-50 mm., 51-72 mm. Doubtless 

 the last group needs to be divided into two groups. From comparison with 

 meager S. coiichii material where a 21 mm. specimen and 56 mm. were taken 

 at same place; and specimens 26, 27, 31, 31, 31, 31.5, 32, 36, 53, 56, 58, 59.5, 

 59.5, 60, 67 mm. were taken at another locality at the same time and from 

 deductions from 59 adults of S. holhrookii above 44 mm., the evidence pro- 

 visionally might be interpreted as: 8.5-12 mm., at transformation; 18-24 mm- 

 one year olds; 26-36 mm. two year olds; 38-50 mm. three year olds ; 51-61 mm. 

 four year olds; 62-72 five year olds. It could be interpreted as 8.5-12.0 mm. 

 at transformation; 21-28 one year olds; 31-40 mm. two year olds; 42-52 mm. 

 three year olds; 53-60 four year olds; 62-67 or 68 five year olds and 70-72 

 six year olds. At present we incline toward the former, knowing the material 

 is scant for careful conclusions. 



FOOD 



Holbrook alludes to its catching insects at the entrance to its hole. An- 

 drew Nichols (1852, p. 116) "also kept a few of the old frogs, three in number, 

 two females and a male in a barrel, a third part filled with moist peat muck, 

 containing some earthworms {Lumhricus terrestris L.) and other small crea- 

 tures. Occasionally I threw in a few garden snails {Limax agrestis L.), 

 small pieces of meat, fish or insects. Whether they ate of those provisions is 

 uncertain. Occasionally I found one or two of them out of the muck, in which 

 they usually buried themselves, reserving only a small breathing hole, opening 

 above their heads. ... I kept them until the last part of November, 

 when carelessly permitting the earth to become frozen, they were killed." 



Pike (1886, pp. 217, 218) on Aug. 8, 1884 captured several of these animals 

 in their exodus from the water and makes some food notes on them. "We 

 carried our little treasures home in bags filled with grass, and so tired were we 

 after our hunt we left them imprisoned all night. Some of them objected to 

 being bagged, and made a faint squeaking noise when handled. 



"Next morning I placed them in a large glass jar with earth, and in less 

 time than it takes to write the fact most were buried, all but their noses. I 

 fed them on flies and insects, and once I put in half a nest of young spiders. 

 As soon as their little bright eyes caught sight of the moving game, a most 

 animated scene took place. Every one was out jumping and capering about 



